Hamster Illness Guide

Hamsters have a lifespan of two to three years but some have been known to live up to four years or longer due to exceptional hamster care and a bit of luck. During a hamster’s life, like all living things, it can become ill, sick or injured from various ailments or accidents. With proper prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a sick hamster, you can hope for your little pet to be fortunate enough to live a long (in hamster years) and happy life.

Prevent Hamster Illness

The best treatment of hamster illnesses is to prevent them from ever happening. If you can provide a healthy diet, plenty of fresh water and a good exercise regimen, your hamsters will in turn be healthier and less likely to succumb to an illness. It’s also important to keep a clean and comfortable living space for them. Read more…

Signs and Symptoms of a Sick Hamster

In order to determine is your hamster is sick with an illness, you must first observe its behavior. If the hamster’s behavior is off from what it normally is, that a sure sign something might be wrong with your little pet. Check how it acts and interacts with you or other hamsters. Another thing to observe is to check its body for physical signs of injuries or illnesses. Read more…

Most Common Hamster Illnesses

Hamster don’t often get sick in their 2 to 3 year lifespan but on occasion they can contract an illnesses if their owners don’t fully understand how to prevent illnesses that are most common. Even then, it can still be beyond your control to keep your pet healthy. Genetics and environmental factors can come into play that can make a hamster more susceptible to illness.

While there isn’t much you can do about your hamster’s genetics, you can minimize your chances of owning an unlucky hamster if you only purchase your pets through reputable breeders or quality pet stores. Environmental factors on the other hand can be improved to help keep your hamsters from falling ill from any of the following common issues. Read about how you can treat a sick hamster.

6 Common Illnesses

Wet Tail Disease

Fungus Infections

Lip Scabs

Diarrhea

Cold Virus

Mites Infestation

Wet Tail Disease: Much like diarrhea, wet tail disease involves a wet backside. It often occurs in young and baby hamsters and requires immediate treatment. A weakened immune system from stress caused by a separation from their mothers or poor food quality are the cause of this.

Fungal Infections: With similar symptoms to mites, a fungal infection will make the skin itchy, red and scaly. Again a trip to the vet will be necessary. In regards to pet fungus infections, always wash your hands thoroughly after handling your infected hamsters or anything in their hamster habitat.

Lip Scabs: lip scabs on a hamster’s mouth are another form of fungi or bacteria infections. Hamsters with a weakened immune system through poor hamster care and a substandard living arrangement are more susceptible to this condition. Often it’s a vitamin deficiency in their diet.

Related

Diarrhea: If your hamster has a wet bottom and its stools are runny, it likely has diarrhea. Unlike in human, this is a very serious condition for hamsters. Get them to the vet immediately for treatment and make sure the sick hamster drinks enough water. It’s often caused by poor quality fresh food or something they should not have chewed on.

Cold Virus: If you hamster is sneezing, wheezing or has a runny nose, your hamster likely has a cold. Try a heat treatment (discussed in Treat a Sick Hamster.) and strongly consider a trip to the vet.

Mites Infestation: If the coat of your hamster is disheveled, patchy or falling out, your hamster might have mites. Comb the fur and look for this tiny parasite with a magnifying glass. Parasite often attack hamsters that already have a low immune system. Prevent this by following the prevention tips we offer. A trip to the vet will be needed to get the proper sprays. Never try to use home remedies for this.

2 comments on “Illnesses”

My hamster is very active and has been attacked many times by big dwarf hamsters in the shop where I bought it it keeps climbing up and down the cage and falling from the top to the ground below, its teeth are very long and its spine seems to be injured it’s foot seems to be mutated or have an extra toe ,I am very worried and think that it is the runt of the litter, I am a responsible pet owner and it was like this when I bought it, it is still a baby but I’m not too sure how old . I don’t know what to do.